Police are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering “too good to be true” wedding organizer (WO) promotions. This warning follows a major fraud case involving Marwah Catering, which successfully deceived dozens of couples with low-cost wedding packages.
Speaking at the East Jakarta Metropolitan Police station on Monday (June 1), Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit, AKBP Bayu Kurniawan, emphasized the importance of performing thorough due diligence before hiring any wedding vendor. He stressed that unrealistic pricing is often a red flag for potential scams.
“We strongly advise the public to be vigilant when selecting a wedding organizer,” Bayu stated. “Always verify whether the service provider is legitimate, has a proven track record, and offers pricing that aligns with market standards. If a deal seems suspiciously inexpensive, do not be quick to trust it, as it is likely a fraudulent scheme.”
The scale of the Marwah Catering fraud is significant, affecting 58 couples who were lured by advertisements on Instagram. According to police reports, the suspects used social media to attract victims, initiating contact through the platform before moving the conversation to WhatsApp to finalize the deceptive deals.
“The victims were initially drawn in by advertisements on Instagram. Once they reached out, the suspects used WhatsApp to offer these low-cost, high-value packages, which were essentially bait,” explained Bayu.
Authorities estimate the total financial losses incurred by the victims amount to IDR 2.6 billion. The perpetrators, a married couple identified by their initials RM and ER, were eventually apprehended at a rented property in Cililin, West Bandung Regency, on Friday (May 29).
The suspects now face serious legal consequences for their actions. They have been charged under Article 372 regarding embezzlement and Article 378 regarding fraud of the Criminal Code (KUHP). If convicted, the couple faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
Summary
The police have arrested a married couple, identified as RM and ER, for running a fraudulent wedding catering service under the name “Marwah Catering.” The perpetrators used Instagram to lure victims with unrealistically low-priced wedding packages, ultimately defrauding 58 couples of a total of Rp2.6 billion.
Authorities are urging the public to remain cautious of suspicious wedding service promotions and to thoroughly verify a provider’s track record before making any payments. The suspects have been charged under Article 372 for embezzlement and Article 378 for fraud under the Criminal Code, which carry a maximum sentence of four years in prison.